Shoe construction



p 1945. c. 'A.'JULIANELL| 2,384,927

SHOE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nmf. 24, 1942 Patented Sept. 18, 1945 I UNITEDSTATES [PATENT OFFICE SHOE CONSTRUCTION Charles A. Julianelli, New York,N. Y.

Application November 24, 1942, Serial No. 466,720

1 Claim.

This invention relates to novel shoe constructions, and moreparticularly to novel methods of manufacturing the upper and vampportions of shoes and slippers in a unitary form.

In accordance with my present invention, I outline a pattern for theupper of the shoe or slipper in such manner as to readily construct theupper directly into its final shape anddesired size.

It is among the objects of my invention to produce a shoe or slipperthat will fit like a glove, having definite utility as well as apleasing design and appearance. Towards this end I prefer to use pliablematerial for the upper, such as leather, suede, fabric and the like.

The soft construction of the upper, and its shaping to conform with thecontour of the foot, makes the resultant shoe or slipper verycomfortable. To form a completed shoe, it is only necessary to attach anouter sole and heel to the completely preformed upper. The invention isalso applicable to the construction of a vamp section of eveningslippers.

The foregoing advantages, objects and features of my invention willbecome more apparent from the following description of preferredembodiments thereof, illustrated in the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a pattern of the material to form a shoe upper.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the upper, constructed from the pattern of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the upper of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side view of a shoe completed with the upper of Figs. 2 and3.

Fig. 5 is a pattern of the material for use in forming a unitary vampsection for a slipper.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the vamp, constructed from the pattern of Fig.5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a shoe constructed with the vamp of Fig.6.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the design of the pattern lfl into which thematerial for the shoe upper is cut, depends upon the size, shape anddesign that the completed upper H is to assume. An important feature ofthe invention involves the use of slits or V-notches [2 in the patternIII, that form pairs of contiguous edges l3. The pairs of edges I 3,when constructed into the completed upper, constitute the seams Mthereof. I have found that such construction permits accurate preshapingof an upper II for any desired shoe size, shape or form.

The pattern H! is preferably placed on a prop erly shaped last l5 duringstitching of the seams 14 in order that the completed shoe will be ofthe desired form andsi'ze. The exposed'upper edges l5 are formed with awelt, or otherwise finished, as shown. The shoe-lace holes I! may beformed in the pattern l0, and eyeletted before constructing thecompleted upper. It will now be evident that the shape of pattern In,including the type and size of notches I2, and the shape of flaps I 8,depend upon the design and size of the completed shoe.

A slot 20 is formed centrally of pattern ID in order that the bottom orsole portion 2| of upper H may be flat. Slot 20 is sewed together by aflat cross-stitch 22, as shown in Fig. 3. Also, pattern I!) may beformed in two pieces by a longitudinal separation along dot-dash lines23, as seen in Fig. 1. In the latter event the crossstitch correspondingto 22 will extend across the whole sole portion 2|.

The upper ll corresponding to the showing in Figs. 2 and 3 may be usedas a glove-type shoe or slipper, since it accuratel fits the foot whenseams l4 have been stitched with pattern l0 placed on the last l5. Whenused for a normal shoe, the sole 24 and heel 25 sections may be attachedthereto, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4. The resultant shoe,as shown in Fig. 4., is very comfortable and form fitting, and can bemade in various shapes, styles and sizes, as will now be evident. Theinnersole of upper l I, corresponding to 2| in Fig. 3, is smooth andfiat.

My present invention may be applied to the construction of a vamp for anevening type slipper, as generally illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. Fig. 5shows the pattern 26 for such vamp construction. Pattern 25 comprisesV-notches 21 forming opposed pairs of edges 28, which, when sewedtogether as the vamp, constitute the seams 30 thereof, in a mannersimilar to the upper H of Figs. 1 to 4. The size and shape of notches21, and corresponding flaps 3|, are such as to combine to form a vamp 32of the requisite shape and size.

Vamp 32 has an open front portion 33 which is formed by omitting acorresponding section at 34 in pattern 26. If pattern 26 is formed intwo sections, corresponding to a severance along the dot-dash line 35,the vamp is completed by cross-stitching along the sole as shown bydotted lines 39 in Fig. 6. The completed slipper, incorporating vamp 32,is shown in perspective 'in Fig. 7, wherein the vamp is mounted on asole '36 and connected by a shank or arched portion 31 to heel section38.

The advantage of an upper or vamp construction in accordance with myinvention is the avoidance of box-type inner support or constructiontherefor, and a resultant fit like a glove characteristic. The manner ofincorporating the notches and flaps in the upper patterns may be varied,to impart correspondingly diflerent appearances in the final design ofthe shoe while retaining the glove fit construction thereof.

An insole, such as 40 in Fig. '7, may be put into the slipper or shoeformed with the upper of the invention. The seams, corresponding to [4in Figs. 2 and 4, and 30 in Figs. 6 and 7, may be pinked at the edges asthey are sewed together, resulting in a characteristically pleasingdesign.

It is thus evident that the resultant shoe or slipper construction of mypresent invention provides a comfortable glove fit type construction ofpleasing appearance and variable design. The

upper or Vamp sections do not require a boxed-in 7 construction. Themethod of forming the shoe is relatively simple and inexpensive once thepatterns have been properly laid out.

Although I have illustrated preferred forms which my invention mayassume in practice, it is to be understood that variations may bepracticed without departing from the broader spirit and scope of theinvention, as set forth in the appended claim.

What 'I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A shoe comprising .a sheet of material defining an insole andcontaininga plurality of notches defining a series of relatively narrow divergentflaps having contiguous bases defining the toe and ball support portionsof said insole, said flaps extending completely around the periphery ofsuch toe and ball support portions, the contiguous sides and abuttingouter ends of said flaps being "joined together to constitute a footconforming closed upper for the shoe.

CHARLES A. J ULIANELLI.

